10 · 28

Google Maps updated to Version 4.6 with search improvements

Google Maps Update

Google Maps just got itself a little update in ye olde Android Market. And as you can see above, the changes are as follows: You can filter your search results by what's currently open, but neighborhood or by related searches. Also, you can browse the updated reviews section of Place Pages to read others' reviews.

OK, so not the sexiest of updates, but a fairly major one nonetheless. Have at it!

09 · 03

Verizon Fascinate ringtones, wallpapers available

Samsung Fascinate

A new device means new goodies, and this time we don't have to wait for the Samsung Fascinate to launch before we get a peek at it's innards.  We have the full system dump for you hackery types, as well as a bevy of new wallpapers and system sounds for the rest of us to enjoy:

[Android Central Forums]

09 · 03

Motorola Takes Out Another Full Page Ad in the NYT Complete with Not So Subtle Jab at Apple

nytmotoflash

Just like they did before when all the cool kids were mocking antennagate (funny how a couple million dollars of free cases will silence critics so quick), Motorola is flinging the proverbial poo at Apple in their latest full-page ad for the Droid 2 found in the New York Times. This time they take Apple to task on Flash, which actually was in vogue before the whole antenna thing but has sort of settled down as the two sides more or less agreed to disagree.

The ad reads, “Flash websites? There’s a phone for that.” That should ring familiar to anyone who has repeated or mocked Apple’s successful “There’s an app for that” campaign.

Now I have nothing against Flash for mobile — in fact, you may recall my stance that it likely will do more good than harm — but is it a selling point worthy of a full page ad that snidely jabs at the competition? Probably not. Still, we give Moto props for exhibiting their grapefruit sized testicles once more.

[via MobileCrunch]

09 · 03

Google To Update, Shorten And De-Jargon Privacy Policies – Here’s What’s Changing

Mike Yang, Google’s Associate General Counsel, just published a post on the Google blog, informing users that the company is making its privacy policies shorter and easier to understand for non-lawyers. They are also making some other changes, but to be clear, the Mountain View company isn’t altering its privacy practices as such.

The updates will go into effect October 3, which is 30 days from now.

Until that time, all products and services will continue to be governed by the current version of the privacy policies and Google will update people on the changes via the Google Privacy Center and a notice the company will be putting up on the Google Account sign-in page, enabling people to learn about the changes when they sign into Gmail, Docs, Talk or Calendar.

There’s now also a dedicated page in the Privacy Center where users can find the most popular privacy tools, and some of Google’s product Help Centers will get more content over time.

So what else is changing?

Most Google products and services are governed by the main Google Privacy Policy, which was last updated in March 2009. However, Google writes, a number of its products also have individual privacy policies in addition.

The company will be getting rid of twelve of these product-specific policies to reduce unnecessary redundancies and/or to better reflect how the products work together. These twelve products will continue to be governed by the main Google Privacy Policy.

They are: 3D Warehouse, App Engine, Calendar, Docs, Firefox Extensions, G1, Gmail, Feedback, iGoogle, Maps, Talk and Tasks.

The main Google Privacy Policy will also be made more user-friendly.

Google says it is trimming redundancies and updating some of the legal language to make it more clear to users. For example, Google will be deleting a sentence that reads, “The affiliated sites through which our services are offered may have different privacy practices and we encourage you to read their privacy policies,” because they realized it’s kind of obvious that non-Google sites aren’t covered by Google’s privacy policies.

You can see a preview of the updated policy that will take effect on October 3, 2010. But even better is going to this page, where all the changes are indicated more clearly.

09 · 03

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Unboxing And First Look

Android Community has received a Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 for AT&T to review and had a chance to unbox it, along with take a first look at the hardware. The device currently runs Android 1.6 and has Sony’s skin with Timescape and Mediascape on board. It has a 4 inch LCD display, with Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm headphone jack, SD card slot and 2GB card included along with 429MB of internal storage for apps.

We will put in some time with the device and put the pressure on it to see how it holds up, and how Sony’s skin is in everyday use. While we are doing that check out the unboxing and first look below to see what the phone has in store.

Kyle Reddoch

I am an aspiring Web Developer, Android Fanatic, Family Man, and all around Web Geek! I also do Freelance Development work.

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